Ascaron

Ascaron Entertainment GmbH was a German video game developer and publisher based in Gütersloh, Germany. Founded in 1996 by Holger Flöttmann, Ascaron was best known for its action role-playing game (ARPG) series, Sacred.

Ascaron developed and published games primarily for the PC platform. Key titles included:

• Sacred: The company's flagship title, Sacred was an open-world ARPG released in 2004. It gained popularity for its expansive world, extensive character customization, and cooperative multiplayer mode.

• Sacred Underworld: An expansion pack for Sacred, adding new regions, characters, and quests.

• Sacred 2: Fallen Angel: The sequel to Sacred, released in 2008. It featured improved graphics, a larger world, and new gameplay mechanics.

• Sacred Citadel: A side-scrolling beat 'em up set in the Sacred universe, released in 2013 (though developed and published after Ascaron's closure by other entities).

Ascaron filed for insolvency in 2009. Its assets and intellectual property were later acquired by other companies, including Koch Media (now Plaion), which continued to release titles in the Sacred franchise. The closure of Ascaron marked the end of an era for a studio that had significantly contributed to the ARPG genre.